Marker for fur skins



- June 19, 1934. M. CANTER 1,963,548

1 a MARKER FOR FUR SKINS Filed July 29, 1932 ",IIIIIIII? I III/If Patented June 19, 1934 UNITED PATENT OFFICE 1,963,648 MARKER FOR FUR SKINS Morris Canter, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application July 29, 1932 Serial No. 625,596 '6 Claims. (01. 40-22:)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in markers, and has particular relation to a marker to be applied to skins or hides, especially fur bearing skins, to identify them.

7 At the present time it is the common practice for the owner to attach some identifying mark to skins when sending them to the dresser for treatment. These markers are attached by the owner with the thought of insuring the return to him .of his own identified skins. However, dishonest parties frequently remove the 'markers from the more valuable skins .of high quality and apply the markers to skins of less value which skins of less value are then given to the customer who had furnished valuable skins for dressing.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a marker for skins which marker when once properly attached cannot be removed from a skin without being destroyed or so mutilated as 2 to .readily show that it has been tampered with.

Therefore, the marker of the present invention will prevent the substitution. or exchange of skins of inferior quality for valuable skins in the manner above noted.

Another object is to provide a marker including a pair of members or portions to be disposed one at each side of a skin together with an element to pass through the skin to connect said portions, either or both of said portions and said element, if desired, including means whereby should said element be severed and then soldered together such severing of the element will mutilate one or more 'of said means and the fact that the marker has been tampered with will be apparent to the owner.

A further object is to :providea marker for the purpose stated and which is of simple construe-- tion and so may be cheaply manufactured and which may be easily and-quickly applied to askin.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration -of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein several satisfactory embodiments of the invention are shown. However, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the inventionand the .scope of the appended claims.

In thedrawing:

Fig. l is atop plan view showinga portion of a skin having the improved marker in position thereon;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken-substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the marker being shown just prior to being sealed;

Fig. 3 is an elevational View of the upper member on enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Fig. '5 is a side elevation before sealing showing a slight modification;

Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the device of Fig. 5 showing it in-sealed condition;

Fig. '7 isa plan view of the top of the lower member of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a'view somewhat similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modification;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view through the device of Fig. 8 when sealed;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view-of the device shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view illustrating a modification;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view thereof takensubstantially along the line 13.13 of Fig. 12 showing the upper member in elevation;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 1414.of Fig. 12; p v

Fig. 15 is -a top plan view of another somewhat modified construction;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view along the line 16-16 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 16 but showing the parts just prior to being sealed and showing the upper member in elevation and the lower member in section;

Fig. 18 is a section on an enlarged scale of the lower portion of the seal showing another modification; and

Fig. 19 is a side elevation thereof looking from eitherthe right or left of Fig. 18. 7

Referring in detail to the drawing and at first particularly to Figs. 1 through 4, the improved marker or seal-is shown as formed in one piece in the form of a casting, and comprises a body generally designated 20 and including a pair of spaced arms .or members 21 and 22 extending in the same general direction wherebythe body is substantially U-shaped. The arm 22 at its-free or inner'end is enlarged to provide a head 23 having an opening or recess .24 therein the entrance to-which is through the upper or inner side of thearm. Inwardly of its entrance the said'opening or recess 24 is enlarged whereby in cross section it is substantially a dove-tail, and the purpose of this arrangement will later fully appear.

Adjacent its free end the arm 2l- -carries a confurther necting element or pin integral with the arm and adapted to be passed through a skin, a portion of which is shown at 26. Near its lower or free end the pin 25 may or may not be provided with a transversely extending opening 27, the purpose of which will later be set forth. On the inner surface of the arm 21 adjacent to and, if desired, about the pin or element 25, there is provided any suitable mark, name or the like, as indicated at 28. This means or mark or identi fying data 28 is raised so as to project beyond the surface of the arm. The same or other characters 29 are raised to project above the surface of the arm 22 about the entrance to the opening or recess 24 therein. Also identifying marks or other means to be destroyed if the pin is out are provided on the surface of pin 25. These may be longitudinally extending ribs or a name or other mark 30a in raised letters. Either the ribs 30 or letters 30a or both may be used and when used they extend for a distance longitudinally of the pin at least equal to the thickness of the pin from the inner surface of the arm 31 so that if the pin is cut or sawed on either side of the skin these markings will be out also.

In the use of the device it is slipped about the edge of a skin 26 so as to dispose one of the arms at each side of the skin. Next, the pin or element 25 is forced through the skin to dispose the parts as shown in Fig. 2 and thereafter by means of a suitable press or the like the free or lower end of the pin is forced into the opening or recess 24. Sufficient pressure is exerted to spread the end of the pin received in the opening 24 whereby said end fills the recess and is spread into the enlarged or undercut portion of the opening. Since the pin is provided with the transverse perforation 27 the ends of the pin may be more easily spread as will be understood, It

will be noted particularly with reference to Fig. 2 that the ribs 30 and markings 30w are of a length to extend through the skin 26 and when the device is applied the head 23 on the arm 22 has received the extending portion of the pin and could be used.

is disposed in close relation to the surface of the skin. This is shown more clearly in Fig. 6.

The press used in applying the improved marker may be so constructed as to sink or raise, as

, desired, a suitable mark 31 in the upper surface of the arm 21 above the pin 25 and in the lower surface of the head 23. While the drawing at 31 shows the word Seal it will be understood that a suitable trade-mark or other identifying data When the device is applied as above described it will be impossible to remove the marker from one skin and apply it to an other without so mutilating the marker as to clearly show that it has been tampered with. Should the pin or connecting element 25 be severed as by passing a saw or the like through it close to either of the arms 21 or 22 and between these arms and the surface of the skin the severing operation will mutilate the raised or extending portions 28 or 29 and will also result in the ribs 30 being out.

Should the marker then be transferred to another fur and the pin soldered together in the soldering operation it will not be possible to repair the destroyed or mutilated projections 28 and 29 or the severed ribs 30, and accordingly the owner will be quickly apprised of the fact that his marker has been tampered with. It will be understood that the projections 28 and 29 as well as the ribs 30 may all be used in one marker or that the markers may be made up in a variety of ways as by using the ribs on some markers and the raised lettering or projections 28 and 29 on other markers. Also, it will be apparent that the ribs need not take the exact form shown since any irregularities extending longitudinally of the outer surface of the pin will probably suiiice.

Referring now to Figs. 5, 6 and '7, the marker shown is generally designated 32 but is of substantially the same construction as that already described, and where the parts are the same identical reference characters are employed. This marker 32 includes the upper and lower arms or members 21 and 22 the latter carrying the head 23 having the opening or recess 24 therein. The arm 21 carries a pin 33 corresponding in every respect with the pin 25 of the figures previously described with the single exception that the pin 33 is formed without any transversely extending perforation therein. However, the end of the pin 33 is spread in the opening or recess 24 when the marker 32 is fully applied as clearly shown in Fig. 6.

In the figures thus far described the head 23 as disclosed is provided with a recess closed at its outer side and having its entrance at the inner. side of the arm 22. This particular construction is not vital and as shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 a marker generally designated 34 has its arm or member 22 carry a head 35 having an opening 36 extending entirely therethrough. At its outer or lower end the said opening is flared or undercut as at 37 and when the device is applied the lower or free end of the pin 33 is spread or headed so as to occupy and fill the flared portion 3'7 of the opening 36. Otherwise, the structure disclosed in. Figs. 8 through 11 is that previously described and its function and operation will therefore be understood.

Referring now to Figs. 12, 1'3 and 14, the improved marker as here shown is generally designated 39 and is in the form of a double marker. It comprises a pair of upper arms or members 40 connected with a pair of lower arms or members 41 as by a connecting portion 42, and each of the arms 41 at its outer end carries an enlargement or head 43 having an under-cut or inwardly enlarged recess 44 therein. Similarly each upper arm 40 at its free end carries one of the connecting elements or pins 25 already fully described. Additionally, the heads 43 are directly connected by an arm or connecting bar 45, while the pins 25 are directly connected by an arm or bar 46.

The device of Figs. 12 through 14 is also applied by a press or the like and the lower ends of the pins are passed into the recesses 44 and crushed and spread therein as will be understood. While the pins or connecting elements are shown as provided with transversely extending perforations 27 it will be understood that these perforations may be omitted, and it will also be understood that the recesses 44 may be open at their lower ends, being constructed for example as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The raised portions or projections 28 and 29 are employed and the pins are provided with the ribs 30 the purpose of these features having already been described. With the device of Figs. 12 through 14 the skin is perforated at a pair of spaced points and the elements passed through the skin are integral with the other portions of the device whereby a series of connected means are passed through the skin and then sealed rendering removal of the marker from the skin extremely diflicult. This is intended more particularly to be used on thin skins or esa-s43 :skins'ithatmight tear'relatively .easy,-=the double seal .making dtlthat much 'less liable to be torn fromtheskin. a

' Referring now to Figs. 15, through 17., the marker of these figures is generally designated 4'land is practically the sameas the marker of-Fig. 12 when. theilatteriisjconsidered without the arms and 41. Marker 4'7 includes a lower or inner portion 48 and an upper or outer portion 49, the former including a pair of spaced heads. 50 having inwardly enlarged recesses 51 therein, the said head portions being spaced apart and connected by a member or arm 52. The upper or outer portion 49 includes a pair of the pins 33 spaced apart and connected as by an arm or member 53, the said arm or member maintaining the pins in such spaced relation that they are adapted to be received in the recesses 51 as will be understood. The pins or connecting elements 33 are provided with the ribs 30 and about the pins are formed the projections 28 while the projections 29 are formed about the entrances to the recesses 51. The marker is applied by a press or other convenient means but is intended more particularly for the electrically operated applying machine,

and the ends of the pins 33 are received in the recesses 51 and spread therein to seal the parts together one part being disposed at each side of the skin and the parts being disposed in relatively close relation to their respective sides of the skin as clearly shown in Fig. 16. It will be noted that this arrangement in efiect provides a pair of spaced buttons connected at the respective sides of the skin by the arms 52 and 53 whereby it will not be possible to stretch the skin about the opening through which a connecting element or pin passes and then work the marker out of the skin.

In Figs. 18 and 19 is shown a somewhat difierent arrangement. As shown in Fig. 3 the pin or rivet 25 may also be provided with seals or markings 54 on diametrically opposite sides substantially in alignment with the opening 2'7. Then if the socket member 23 is provided with a transverse opening 55 in alignment with the markings 54 when the elements are pressed together to close the seal the collapse of the walls of pin 25 on oposite sides of opening 2'7 will cause this metal to bulge outwardly and fill the opening 55 as indicated at 57 in Fig. 18 and the markings 54 will be visible in the opening 55 from the outside of the device. The elements of this seal cannot be separated without so destroying the pin 25 or these branches 56 that they cannot be replaced in their original condition and therefore any tampering with the seal will be disclosed.

It is to be understood that in all the forms shown the metal is a relatively soft alloy so that it will flow as indicated under the pressure of the sealing dies. A satisfactory alloy is similar to one of approximately 60% tin and 40% lead, although other alloys may be used.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided a marker which may be manufactured at low cost since with the exception of the form shown in Fig. 15 the marker is cast in one-piece. Further, it will be apparentthat the marker may take a variety of forms and that all of the features of the device need not be ii incorporated in each embodiment. For example,

the pins or connecting elements employed may be those designated 25 and having a transverse perforation therein, or they may be those designated 33 and not having a perforation therein. Also, the part receiving the pins and in which the -ends ofzthe pins are crushed and spread may have ianiopeningextending entirely therethrough asatBGror may simply have close ended recesses therein as shownin the other figures.

.Havmg thus set forth the nature of my invention, what -I claim is: 1 -1. .In a device of the character described, aseal including a body portion, a pin integral with the body portion and having an end adapted to be passed through a skin, a member to receive the end of the pin passed through the skin and form therewith a seal to prevent the pin being withdrawn through the skin, and said pin having longitudinally extending ribs on its outer surface whereby should the pin be severed and then soldered together these ribs will be severed and such tampering with the pin will be exposed.

2. In a device of the character described, a pair of members to be disposed one at each side of a skin, an element integral with one of said members having an end adapted to be passed through the skin to connect said members, the other of said members including a portion to receive the said end of the element and form therewith a seal, and said element having longitudinally extending ribs on its outer surface whereby should the element be severed and then soldered together such tampering with the element will be exposed.

3. In a device of the character described, a pair of memebrs to be disposed one at each side of a skin, an element having an end to be passed through the skin to connect said members and maintain them in relatively close relation to their respective side of the skin, and one of said members at its inner side about said element having raised means whereby should said element be severed by the insertion of a cutting means between the member and the skin said means on the member will be mutilated and the tampering with the element will be apparent even when the severed parts are soldered together.

4. In a seal of the character described, a pair of members to be disposed one at each side of a skin, a pin integral with one of said members having an end to be passed through the skin to connect said members and maintain them in relatively close relation to'their respective sides of the skin, and each of said members at its inner side about said pin having raised means whereby should the pin be severed by the insertion of a cutting means between one of the members and the skin said means on said member will be mutilated and the tampering with the pin will be apparent even when the severed parts are soldered together.

5. In a device of the character described, an integral one-piece seal including a pair of members to be disposed one at each side of a skin, a

pin integral with one of said members having an end to be passed through the skin to connect said members and maintain them in relatively close relation to their respective sides of the skin, said pin having a longitudinally extending rib on its outer surface, and one of said members at its inner side about said pin having raised means whereby should said pin be severed by the insertion of a cutting means between the member and skin said rib and means on the member will be mutilated and the tampering with the seal will be apparent even when the severed parts are soldered together.

6. In a seal of the character described, a pair of members to be disposed one at each side of a means whereby should said pin be severed by the insertion of a cutting means between one of the members and the skin said rib and means on said member will be mutilated and the tampering with the seal will be apparent even when the severed parts are soldered together.

MORRIS CANTER. 

